PARADOXICAL METAPHORS IN THE DEPICTION OF AILING CHARACTERS IN SELECTED NIGERIAN AND AMERICAN NOVELS

Abstract

Paradoxical metaphor, the co-occurrence of paradox and metaphor, constitutes an unusual trope in the representation of mental processes of ailing characters in novels. Existing studies on the representation of ailing characters in literature have focused mainly on therapeutic uses of language and scriptotherapy. However, scant attention has been devoted to literary tropes that foreground the mental processes of ailing characters in Nigerian and American novels. This study was, therefore, designed to examine the paradoxical metaphors in selected Nigerian and American novels. This was with a view to assessing their impact on ailing characters and exploring the influence of sociological backgrounds on characters’ use of paradoxical metaphors in reacting to their medical condition. Jacques Derrida’s Deconstruction and Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic theories served as the framework, while the interpretive design was used. Nigerian and American novels were purposively selected based on the prevalence of depictions of mental processes of ailing characters. Ten novels (five from each country) were purposively sampled for their in-depth representations of paradoxical metaphors. The Nigerian novels were Jude Idada’s Boom Boom (BB), Promise Ogochukwu’s Sorrow’s Joy (SJ), Samira Sanusi’s S is for Survivor (SIFS), Maryam Awaisu’s Burning Bright (BuB) and Eric Omazu’s The Last Requiem (TLR). The American novels were Lisa Genova’s Every Note Played (ENP), Rachael Lippincott’s Five Feet Apart (FFA), Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air (WBBA), Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls (AMC) and Lisa Genova’s Still Alice (SA). The texts were subjected to literary analysis. Paradoxical metaphors of identity, pain, survival and death are identified in both Nigerian and American novels. As characters dwell on these paradoxical metaphors, they additionally suffer from all forms of depression (BB, SJ, SIFS, TLR, ENP, FFA, WBBA and SA), guilt complex (BB), delirium (SJ, SIFS, TLR, WBBA and SA), suicidal tendencies (SJ and SA), psychotic disorders (SJ and AMC), Cotard’s syndrome (TLR and WBBA), hysteria (ENP), enosiophobia (ENP), paranoia (SJ, SIFS and TLR) and schizophrenia (SJ). Characters who intentionally decide to stop noxious paradoxical metaphors are portrayed (BB, BuB, SIFS, AMC and FFA). The existential survival of characters depends on their significant others and their mental processes. The characters find meaning in suffering by perceiving their experiences as punishment (SJ, SIFS, ENP and AMC), sanctification (BuB), familial reconciliation (SJ, ENP, FFA, WBBA and SA), curse (SJ and WBBA), discovery (BuB, TLR and AMC) and understanding death (WBBA). Mental processes are constructed and reconstructed based on socio-cultural experiences and the character’s level of enlightenment. Regardless of geographical significance, the paradoxical metaphors represented are consistent with the characters’ educational backgrounds, depicting scientific educational enlightenment with regard to medical realities (BB, SIFS, TLR, ENP, FFA, WBBA, AMC and SA). Subtle religious and socio-cultural distinctions are also depicted (BuB and SJ). Although all the selected novels depict paradoxical metaphors as hindering recovery and management of ailing characters, Nigerian novels portray subtle socio-cultural experiences, while American novels underpin scientific enlightenment.